Andrew Lang

Aucassin and Nicolette Andrew Lang

Aucassin et Nicolette (12th or 13th century) is an anonymous medieval French chantefable, or combination of prose and verse (literally, a "sung story", similar to a prosimetrum). The story begins with a song which serves as prologue; and then prose takes up the narrative. It recounts the tale of Aucassin, son of Count Garin of Beaucaire, who so loved Nicolette, a Saracen maiden, who had been sold to the Viscount of Beaucaire, baptized and adopted by him, that he had forsaken knighthood and chivalry and even refused to defend his father's territories from enemies........